Glass of Gratitude

It's always totally full.

A friend of mine had been through yet another sleepless night, followed by a hectic morning, with her two babies -- a one-year-old and a newborn. I came for a visit late that morning, and helped her put both of them down for a nap.

After seeing how badly my friend also really needed a rest, I offered to stick around and listen for the kids so she could also get a long nap, and I would be there when either of them woke up. She was incredibly grateful and took me up on the offer.

I went to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water. I carefully and quietly placed the glass onto the kitchen counter, being sure not to make the slightest noise that could interrupt the tranquility that was finally permeating the home.

Then I was oh-so-careful to open and close the fridge, and took out a bottle of water without making a sound.

I went to pour the water and before I even started, I knocked over the glass -- sending it well on its way to shattering all over the kitchen floor.

In the next nano-second, time seemed to freeze as I saw the glass's life flash before my eyes. (It was a nice glass. It served us well.)

As if it were happening in slow-motion, I envisioned the glass crashing to the floor, exploding into a million tiny pieces, awakening both of the babies with a fright, and a lot of hysterical crying.

And in the next millisecond, I said a quick, tiny -- yet extremely meaningful -- prayer, begging God's help to catch the glass.

I reached out in an almost futile attempt to catch it, right before it would smash to smithereens. I almost laughed to myself, knowing the slim chance of my athletic abilities suddenly coming through. (At nearly six feet tall, it certainly wasn't my height that had kept me off the basketball team!)

And then the glass somehow fell right into my hand, safe and sound. No shatter. No crash.

After recovering from my dumbfounded shock, I placed the glass -- carefully! -- back onto the counter, and poured the water. I picked it up and proceeded to say the blessing I so often flippantly mumble, "You, God, are the source of all blessing. Our God, Who rules the world, through whose declaration everything exists".

When I take the time to look around me and see all that I have, it's simple to know that I am incredibly blessed.

But this time was different. I didn't just rattle off the familiar words. I didn't speed through it. With great relief, I smiled and enunciated each word with intense concentration. This time, I meant what I said.

I was grateful for being saved from my own clumsiness. I was grateful for the water I was able to drink. I was grateful for the opportunity to be there for my friend.

That day, if someone had asked me if that glass was 'half-empty' or 'half-full', I would have told them it was totally full -- a glass of gratitude.

Often times in my life I have found it hard to be grateful for all that I have, especially when I start to take things for granted.

But when I take the time to look around me and see all that I have, it's simple to know that I am incredibly blessed. Just being here to enjoy another day of life makes me feel gratitude. And then I have my family, my friends, my job, my health...

I have decided to keep a journal of things to be grateful for in my life. Each night before I go to sleep, I jot down a few more items on the list, and it's become quite a lot of pages of so many wonderful things I have in my life.

When I first got started, I wondered how long it would take to run out of things to write on the list. Yet since then, day after day, I never have struggled to find something for which to be thankful. Each night, as I think of different experiences and happenings within that day, I find an amazing array of things to write down.

And I have even surprisingly discovered that if I think hard enough about it, I am truly thankful for many things in my life that I was upset or angry about when they happened. Now, looking back and thinking how well things turned out, I feel gratitude.

All I have to do is look around me and see the abundance of blessings in my life, and know that my glass is always full.

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About the Author

Ayelet lives in the Old City of Jerusalem, and is also known as "The Kosher Komic". She often travels to bring her Kosher Komedy routine to communities worldwide. More information can be seen at: www.KosherKomedy.com.
Ayelet davens 40 days for people via www.westernwallprayers.org

Visitor Comments: 9

(9)
Rochelle's Ima,
November 27, 2007 1:06 PM

Like the glass, which is a transparent container for all kinds of fluids, from life-sustaining water to all manner of drinks, you are a container of wit, wisdom, brachot and kindness. May H.B.H. bless you and the work of your hands (and mouth!) Kol Hakavod!Vivienne

(8)
Tzvi Gherman,
November 25, 2007 6:04 AM

What a perspective!

As simple as the lesson may be, it is perhaps the key to happiness in life. Great story. Great perspective. Great gift to all of us.

(7)
Gemma,
November 25, 2007 5:46 AM

What a beautiful article

What a beautiful article! I wonder how many times the 'Please don't let it break, G-d!' prayer has been cried throughout the universe, in a multitude of languages since the invention of glasses. Thanks for reminding me how it's in the seemingly 'little' things that Hashem lets us know He is there for us, looking after us!

(6)
Sara Rigler,
November 24, 2007 2:18 PM

Simple but deep

The author took a simple, slpit-second occurance and turned it into a profound lesson that we all can use. I'd like to see more from this author.

(5)
Sarah,
November 24, 2007 1:38 PM

Hodu L'Hashem Ki Tov

Hodu is Hebrew for turkey, coincidence that we eat this on thanksgiving when it translates as gratitude in English? I think not. I heard that from a very wise woman. THank you for this inspiring story. I started this practice months ago, but was very lax. This article inspired me to begin again. It's amazing, when I stopped, I see today, how much hakaras hatov I'm lacking. You should really be matzliach to have a lot of bracha and hatzlacha, and everything you need in ruchnius and gashmias.

(4)
Ahuva Katz,
November 24, 2007 12:27 PM

Ditto!

I also keep a list of things to be grateful for. It keeps me positive and keeps my eyes open to the brachos that I have in my life as well. Thanx for sharing the same sentiment.

(3)
Linda,
November 20, 2007 1:43 AM

Thank you.

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving. I am going to start your practice after having a very difficult season.

(2)
shulamit,
November 19, 2007 11:52 AM

very encouraging

BHwhat an uplifting story - actually it's so simple but really the message is deep, real and encouraging - .thanks\shulamit

(1)
Rachel,
November 18, 2007 6:34 PM

Keeping a record of Hashem's kindness to us

I started keeping a similar journal last Pesach, and I find that most of the things on there are the so-called "little" things like the sun shining or making the bus in time, and the "bigger" things like an extension on an assignment or getting paid right when I need the money. And sometimes I thank G-d for my remembering to keep the journal in the first place.

I live in rural Montana where the Cholov Yisrael milk is difficult to obtain and very expensive. So I drink regular milk. What is your view on this?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Jewish law requires that there be rabbinic supervision during the milking process to ensure that the milk comes from a kosher animal. In the United States, many people rely on the Department of Agriculture's regulations and controls as sufficiently stringent to fulfill the rabbinic requirement for supervision.

Most of the major Kashrut organizations in the United States rely on this as well. You will therefore find many kosher products in America certified with a 'D' next to the kosher symbol. Such products – unless otherwise specified on the label – are not Cholov Yisrael and are assumed kosher based on the DOA's guarantee.

There are many, however, do not rely on this, and will eat only dairy products that are designated as Cholov Yisrael (literally, "Jewish milk"). This is particularly true in large Jewish communities, where Cholov Yisrael is widely available.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that under limited conditions, such as an institution which consumes a lot of milk and Cholov Yisrael is generally unavailable or especially expensive, American milk is acceptable, as the government supervision is adequate to prevent non-kosher ingredients from being added.

It should be added that the above only applies to milk itself, which is marketed as pure cow's milk. All other dairy products, such as cheeses and butter, may contain non-kosher ingredients and always require kosher certification. In addition, Rabbi Feinstein's ruling applies only in the United States, where government regulations are considered reliable. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Cholov Yisrael is a requirement.

There are additional esoteric reasons for being stringent regarding Cholov Yisrael, and because of this it is generally advisable to consume only Cholov Yisroel dairy foods.

In 1889, 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, marking the birth of the modern Jewish community in Argentina. These immigrants were fleeing poverty and pogroms in Russia, and moved to Argentina because of its open door policy of immigration. By 1920, more than 150,000 Jews were living in Argentina. Juan Peron's rise to power in 1946 was an ominous sign, as he was a Nazi sympathizer with fascist leanings. Peron halted Jewish immigration to Argentina, introduced mandatory Catholic religious instruction in public schools, and allowed Argentina to become a haven for fleeing Nazis. (In 1960, Israeli agents abducted Adolf Eichmann from a Buenos Aires suburb.) Today, Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America with 250,000, though terror attacks have prompted many young people to emigrate. In 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 32 people. In 1994, the Jewish community headquarters in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 people. The perpetrators have never been apprehended.

Be aware of what situations and behaviors give you pleasure. When you feel excessively sad and cannot change your attitude, make a conscious effort to take some action that might alleviate your sadness.

If you anticipate feeling sad, prepare a list of things that might make you feel better. It could be talking to a specific enthusiastic individual, running, taking a walk in a quiet area, looking at pictures of family, listening to music, or reading inspiring words.

While our attitude is a major factor in sadness, lack of positive external situations and events play an important role in how we feel.

[If a criminal has been executed by hanging] his body may not remain suspended overnight ... because it is an insult to God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Rashi explains that since man was created in the image of God, anything that disparages man is disparaging God as well.

Chilul Hashem, bringing disgrace to the Divine Name, is one of the greatest sins in the Torah. The opposite of chilul Hashem is kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the Divine Name. While this topic has several dimensions to it, there is a living kiddush Hashem which occurs when a Jew behaves in a manner that merits the respect and admiration of other people, who thereby respect the Torah of Israel.

What is chilul Hashem? One Talmudic author stated, "It is when I buy meat from the butcher and delay paying him" (Yoma 86a). To cause someone to say that a Torah scholar is anything less than scrupulous in meeting his obligations is to cause people to lose respect for the Torah.

Suppose someone offers us a business deal of questionable legality. Is the personal gain worth the possible dishonor that we bring not only upon ourselves, but on our nation? If our personal reputation is ours to handle in whatever way we please, shouldn't we handle the reputation of our nation and the God we represent with maximum care?

Jews have given so much, even their lives, for kiddush Hashem. Can we not forego a few dollars to avoid chilul Hashem?

Today I shall...

be scrupulous in all my transactions and relationships to avoid the possibility of bringing dishonor to my God and people.

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